Journalist wins Dawood hotel with Rs 4.28-cr bid

December 10, 2015

Mumbai, Dec 10: Amid suspense and reported threats, journalist-activist S Balakrishnan on Wednesday won the bid to take over ‘Delhi Zaika’ at Pakmodia Street, a hotel once owned by Dawood Ibrahim, the Karachi-based underworld don, here.

dzBalakrishnan, who is the founder of Desh Seva Samiti—an NGO—placed the highest bid of Rs 4.28 crore for the 500-sq feet property in South Mumbai.

Bids

The second highest bid was of Rs 4.27 crore by the Dawood Bohra Trust. The starting bid was Rs 1.18 crore.

The auction took place under the Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act, 1976 and Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (Prevention) Act, 1985, atTHE DIPLOMAT HOTEL in Colaba.

“In the auction, the property has gone in favour of Desh Seva Samiti....it’s a huge amount to be paid....with the support of patriotic people, this is not big,” he said adding for them the cost would be more as they are so far not aware of arrears of property tax, electricity bill and water charges.

The properties include ‘Delhi Zaika’, previously known as Hotel Raunak Afroz, a green-coloured car (MH-04-AX-3676) and an around 350 sq-feet room in Mahavir Building in Matunga. Besides, four small plots in Daman, a Union Territory, also went under the hammer. The car with a reserve price of around Rs 15,000, was acquired by All India Hindu Mahasabha president Swami Chakrapani.

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News Network
March 26,2020

Jaipur, Mar 26: Two new COVID-19 positive cases were registered in Rajasthan taking the total number of coronavirus cases to 38 in the state.
The Union Health Ministry had on Wednesday reported 606 positive COVID-19 cases in India including 43 foreign nationals.

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Agencies
March 1,2020

Allahabad, Mar 1: Shabista Khan, wife of suspended pediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan, fears that her husband's life is in danger.

In a letter written to the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court and senior government authorities, Shabista has sought security for her husband who is lodged in Mathura jail for allegedly delivering provocative speech during anti-CAA protest at Aligarh Muslim University.

"My husband is being mentally tortured in jail and is being subjected to inhuman behaviour," Shabista wrote in her letter to the chief justice of Allahabad High Court, additional chief secretary (home) and director general (jail), among others.

She said that she apprehended that an attempt could be made on her husband's life in jail and demanded adequate security for him.

She also demanded that her husband should be kept away from active criminals and lodged with common prisoners.

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News Network
June 13,2020

Dehradun, Jun 13: Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane on Saturday said the country is passing through difficult times and its safety and honour depend on the ability of its young officers as military leaders.

Addressing gentlemen cadets at the Indian Military Academy here as the reviewing officer of a passing out parade, Gen Naravane said they are being commissioned as officers into the army under the most daunting of circumstances and the high standards of their military training will help them overcome the challenges lying in store for them.

The parade saw a total of 423 cadets being commissioned into the army including 333 from the country and 90 from friendly foreign countries.

"These are difficult times for the country. Its safety, honour and respect depend on your abilities as military leaders. You have to live up to the expectations of your countrymen. You have to ensure that whatever you do is for their welfare," he said.

The army chief said there are no good or bad regiments but only good officers.

"Become one with your men. Win their trust and affection and they will win battles for you," Naravane said.          

He asked the gentlemen cadets to throw themselves into their new role as commissioned officers with passion but also be compassionate towards their men.

"When the going gets tough and all seems lost, it is the spirit of your men that helps you win," he said.          

He said the gentlemen cadets who are taking their first step as commissioned officers will have to make decisions in the tactical and operational domain as well as resolve ethical issues and they will have only their conscience to guide them.          

"In such critical moments let the core values enshrined in the preamble of the constitution of India be your guiding light," the Army Chief said.

Asking them to rise above petty considerations of caste, creed and religion, he said the army does not discriminate.

Apart from containing the external threats, you may also have to defang internal forces out to destabilise the country.

He said the precise drill movements of the cadets had convinced him they will do their respective countries proud.

"In the autumn of your careers what will matter is not the position you finally attain but how honourably you have served your nation," he said.              

In a message to the gentlemen cadets' parents, who were not allowed to attend the event due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Army Chief said, "Till yesterday they (gentlemen cadets) were your children but from tomorrow they will be ours."

He promised to be with them through thick and thin.

The parade looked slightly off-colour this time with the enthusiastic crowds of parents and some usual features missing like the showering of the drill square with flower petals by helicopters.

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